Can-capping machine



(No Model.)

W. S. BACON.v GAN GAPPING MACHINE. No. 463,591. Patented Nov. 1'7, 1891.

Nvawrom WITNESSES:

UNTTED STATES PATEN T Prien.

VILLIAM S. BACON, OF BRIDGETON, NElV JERSEY.

CAN-CAPPING MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 463,591, dated November 17, 1891.

Application tiled April 6, 1889.

T0 @ZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, WILLIAM S. BACON, of Bridgeton, Cumberland county, State of New Jersey, have invented an Improvement in Can- Capping Machines, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to can-capping machines; and it consists of certain improvements which are fully set forth in the followin gspecification and shown in the accompanying drawings, forming a part thereof.

It is the object of my invention to construct a machine for the purpose of securing or soldering the caps to tin cans in a rapid and efficient manner and so that the solder is evenly distributed about the line of juncture to form an air-tight seam. Heretofore this has been attended with more or less difliculty, and my invention is intended to greatly simplify the operation by making it possible to secure the caps to the cans with great rapidity and with a corresponding saving of labor.

In carrying out my invention I employ a number of vertically-arranged capping-irons, which are heated by suitable devices and are caused to rotate by convenient mechanism, preferably hand-power. rlhe cans, having the caps placed thereon in position and with the requisite amount of solder, are supported in convenient trays upon a table adapted to be raised, so as to bring the heated capping-irons in contact with the caps, and the rotary motion of these irons evenly distributes the solder about the joint whereby the caps are secured with an air-tLght seam. The table is then lowered, and after the first tray of cans has been removed a second tray of cans pre` viously prepared is brought into position and the operation is repeated. By employing a circular rotary supporting-table for the trays great rapidity is obtained, for when one tray of cans has been operated upon the table may be rotated to .bring the next tray into position, while the rst is removed and its place supplied with a new tray. A

The caps are held in position upon the cans during the operationof the machine by means of upright rods extending through. the centers'of the capping-irons. These irons press upon the caps when the cans are raised into Contact with the capping-irons. IjIeat is supplied to the irons in any convenient manner,

Serial No. 306,151. (No model.)

preferably by means of jets of gas emitted from pipes or burners arranged in proximity to them, and fuel-gas, oil, natural gas, or any other suitable heating medium may be employed. r

In the drawings, Figure l is a plan vview of my improved can-capping machine. Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view of the same on the line X X of Fig. l. Fig. 3 is a side elevation of the table-support and lifting devices. Fig.

ping-iron; and Fig. 5 is cross-sectional view, on an enlarged Scale, of a portion of the capping-irons and can, illustrating the operation of the machine.

A is a hollow metallic cylindrical chamber open at the bottom and supported by suitable legs B and by the tablesnpport or post C. This chamber is provided with an opening or chimney a for the escape of the heat and smoke from its interior.

D are the capping-irons, consisting, preferably, of solid metallic cylinderslocated within the chamber A and having necks extending ing journals by which the irons D are secured to gear-wheels E. The gear-wheels E of these different capping-ironsgare geared together, so as to transmit power one to the other. In the drawings I4 have shown siX of these capping-irons geared together, and, while I prefer that number for convenience, it is apparent that more or less may be employed, as desired, without in the slightest degree changing the principles of theinvention.

F is a gear-wheel, by which the power is applied, journaled upon a bracket G, eX-

tending from the cylindrical chamber A and gearing with one of the wheels E. This wheel F is provided with a handle II for the pur-- pose of operating it, though it is apparent that other means may be employed for that purpose, if desired.

I is a circular gas or vapor pipe about the chamber A, provided with nozzles i opening therefrom into the chamber and arranged in close proximity to the irons D.

J is an oil-supply pipe, and K an air-pipe, into which the oil-supply pipe J projects for the purpose of injecting the oil and air into the pipe I. The air-pipe K is provided with 4 is an inverted plan View of a detached capup through the top of the chamber and formv a mixing-chamber in which the oil is vaporized. This pipe K opens into the circular pipe or main I, from which the nozzles are supplied. This constructionillustrated is employed when oil is used as the heating medium; but it is apparent that fuel or natural gas may be supplied to the main I, or separately to the jets i, without the use of said circular' main.

L is a table, preferably circular in shape, located beneath the' chamber A and supported about the central support or post C by means of a collar M. The table is rotatable about said support and capable of being raised and lowered by means of a lever N, operating through a link O and pin I, upon which the collar M rests. The post C is provided with slots cto guide the ends of the pin I3.

Q is afoot-lever for operating` the lever N.

R are the trays upon which the cans to be capped are supported, and are provided with suitable recesses r to hold the cans in position. I prefer to employ a large circular rotary table, as shown, capable of supporting a number of trays; but it is apparent that a smaller supporting-table for a single tray may be substituted, if desired.

The lower or operating surface of each cappin g-iron D is provided with abeveled projecting ring d, which is adapted to fit about the cap of the can, as shown in Fig. 5.

T are loose rods extending through the centers of the irons D, preferably provided with flattened lower ends t, and having their upper ends provided with weights U for the purpose ot' normally depressing said rods and forcing them upon the caps of the cans to hold the eapstirmly in place during the operation of the machine, as is hereinafter more fully described.

W is the can, and V the cap to be secured to it.

lVhile I prefer the details ot construction here shown, I do not limit my invention thereto, as it is apparent that they may be varied in many ways without departing from the principles of my invention.

The operation of the machine is as follows: The trays of cans are placed upon the table L, which is in its position, and each can has the cap put into position and a sufficient quantity of solder loosely laid at the joint. The table is rotated until the tray of cans to be operated upon is brought in position, so that each can is properly centered under the corresponding capping-iron. This is easily accomplished, as the recesses yr of the trays correspond in number and position to thecapping-irons. IIeat is being supplied by the burners or nozzles t' to the irons D, through which the rods T depend, being depressed by the weights U. By depressing the foot-lever Q the table L is raised, bringing the cans upon the tray in contact with the heated irons D and pushing up the rods T into position shown in Figs. 2 and 5. As the weights U tend to depress the rods, the ends T are forced down upon the caps V, holding them firmly in place. The edges of the beveled rings d are in contact with the line of juncture between the caps U and cans WT, about which the solder has been placed. This solder is immediately melted by the contact with the heated irons D. At the same time that the table is raised to bring the cans in contact with the capping-irons the wheel F is rotated by means of the handle II, and through the gear-wheel E the capping-irons D are put in motion evenly and regularly distributing the solder about the seam or juncture between the caps and the cans. The lever Q is then released and the table L lowered and rotated to bring the next tray of cans into position, when the operation is repeated as before. Meanwhile the tray is removed and its place is supplied by a new tray of cans with the caps in place and provided with solder.

By this mechanism a large number of cans may be capped with great rapidity and a perfeet distribution of the solder about the seam is obtained, forming an air-tightjoint.

Ilaving now `described my invention, what I claim as new, and wish to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In a can-capping machine, the combination ot a case or frame, a series of spindles supported therein, provided with solderingirons and pinions and arranged in a circle, the pinions of each spindle gearing with the pinions of the adjacent spindles, and `suitable gearing to operate said spindles.

2. In a can-.capping machine, the combination of a case or frame, a series of spindles supported therein and provided with soldering-irons and pinions and arranged in a cir cle, the pinions of each spindle gearing with the pinions ofthe adjacent spindle, and a power-transmitting Wheel gearing with one of said pinions, whereby a rotary motion is im parted to them all.

In a can-capping machine, the combination of a number of rotatable soldering-irons supported against vertical movement, suitable gearing to rotate said soldering-irons, and a vertically-.movable rotatable supportin g-table for the canslocated below said soldering-irons and adapted to be rotated to bring the cans under said soldering-irons and then raised to bring them in contact therewith.

4. The combination of a vertically-movable supporting -table rotatable about a central support, and one or more soldering-irons lo cated above said table and upon one side of said central support, whereby the table may be rotated about said central support to bring the cans to be operated upon under said soldering-irons, and may then be raised to bring said cans in contact with the soldering irons.

5. The combination of a vertically-movable supporting-table rotatable about a central support, one or more soldering-irons located above said table and upon one side of said IIO central support, and removable trays for the cans supported by said table, whereby said table may be rotated about said central support to bring one tray of cans into operative position under said soldering-irons and may then be raised to bring the cans upon said tray in contact with the soldering-irons.

6. In a can-capping-machine, the combination of a suitable support for the cans, one or more rotating capping-irons adapted to rotate in contact with the surface of the cans to distribute the solder about the seams formed by the caps, and means to heat said cappingirons, consisting of a circular gas or vapor supply main provided with nozzles or burners leading therefrom and arranged in closeA proximity to the capping-irons.

7. In a can-capping machine, the combination of ahollow cylindrical chamberprovided with a suitable opening or chimney for the escape of heat and smoke from the interior of the chamber, a number of vertically-arranged rotatable capping-irons supportedl therein, vapor or gas burners openin g through said cylindrical chamber to heat the irons, and a vertic'allymovable support for the cans adapted to be raised and lowered to brin'gthe surfaces of the cans into and out of contact with the capping-irons.

8. The combination of a number of rotatable capping-irons, means to heat said irons,a supporting-table for the cans t0 be capped, a central support for the said table, about which the table is free to rotate, a vertically-movable supporting-bar within said central tablesupport to support said table against verticaly motion, and lever devices to raise or lower said supportingfbar to lift or lower the table and bring the surfaces of the cans into and out-of contact with the capping-irons.

In testimony of which invention I hereunto Set my hand.

WILLIAM S. BACON. f Witnesses:

ERNEST HOWARD HUNTER, E. M. BRECKEN-RIED. 

